Is There a Right Age to Start Whitening Your Teeth?

Posted on 9/25/2017 by Sundberg Office

There are a few different ways to adjust the shade of your teeth. It all depends on the individual person and what you are trying to do. It's important to know what you're getting into a what the risks could be.

Whitening procedures can be done in the office or over the counter strips you do yourself. Maybe you're not happy with the shade of a partial or crown. Well, all these are different things. Let's run over some information before you make your decision.

How to Decide What Whitening Method is Best

You may decide to try the do it yourself method first. If you get whitening strips from the store, it's important to read the direction. Know what's in them that makes them work and what the risks can be. Strips are absolutely not recommended on baby teeth. They can contain peroxide and other bleaching agents.

It is not a good idea to allow kids or young adults to use these products simply because they may not follow directions properly. Having them in too long can cause problems. Kids using them is not safe because they could swallow them.

We can do a Zoom bleaching, or tray methods for young adults with stained teeth. We will also encourage you to stay away from things that can stain your teeth. These procedures will require parental consent for anyone still under 18.

If you have a fake tooth it is a lot easier to replace it with one that has the same shade as your real teeth. Trying to match it up yourself by bleaching probably won't go so smoothly as you might think.

The ideal plan is to go with what we recommend for you. Keeping up on regular exams and cleanings will help us keep you at your best.

If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please call us at (503) 928-5903 today.